REMINDER: Breeders Theater’s ‘Helpdesk’ continues to help close out Burien’s E.B. Foote Winery with some laughs (and sips) tonight as well as Saturday, July 23rd, starting at 7 p.m., and a matinee on Sunday, July 24th starting at 2 p.m.

Helpdesk is about a group of women working in an office. Across the street, a young man stares at them almost every day. What does he want? Can the women of the Cox & Berman Helpdesk help someone whose troubles aren’t computer-related?

Helpdesk is directed by Scott Green, and features of the acting talents of Laura Smith, Marianne Everett, Emily Fairbrook Shuel, Mari Geasair, Melissa Malloy, and Andrew Galteland.

The show runs July 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127-B SW 153rd Street in Burien. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. One Sunday matinee will be performed July 24, at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and include wine tasting.

E.B. Foote, one of Washington’s oldest wineries, will close in August with the retirement of winemaker Sherrill Miller (read our previous coverage here).

Tickets are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at CorkyCellars in Des Moines, 22511 Marine View Dr., Des Moines, 206-824-9462.

Mari Geasair, left, Melissa Malloy, Marianne Everett and Laura Smith confront a stranger in 'Helpdesk.' Photo by Michael Brunk/NW Lens.

Breeders Theater will help close out Burien’s E.B. Foote Winery with some laughs (and sips) with its 21st production, called ‘Helpdesk,’ a new comedy by T.M. Sell that opens on Friday, July 15th.

Helpdesk is about a group of women working in an office. Across the street, a young man stares at them almost every day. What does he want? Can the women of the Cox & Berman Helpdesk help someone whose troubles aren’t computer-related?

Helpdesk is directed by Scott Green, and features of the acting talents of Laura Smith, Marianne Everett, Emily Fairbrook Shuel, Mari Geasair, Melissa Malloy, and Andrew Galteland.

The show runs July 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127-B SW 153rd Street in Burien. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 7 p.m. One Sunday matinee will be performed July 24, at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and include wine tasting.

E.B. Foote, one of Washington’s oldest wineries, will close in August with the retirement of winemaker Sherrill Miller (read our previous coverage here).

Tickets are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at CorkyCellars in Des Moines, 22511 Marine View Dr., Des Moines, 206-824-9462.

Mari Geasair, left, Melissa Malloy, Marianne Everett and Laura Smith confront a stranger in 'Helpdesk.' Photo by Michael Brunk/NW Lens.

West; Directed By Alan Wilkie: Starring Eric Hartley, Adrienne Grieco, David Roby, Amber Rack, Doug Knoop, Stephen R. Scheide, Erika Zabelle and Nancy Warren. Written by T.M. Sell. Music by Nancy Warren.

In my time as a critic, it seems certain patterns have emerged more distinctly than others. So when I was commissioned to see West at Breeders Theater I decided to follow my usual pattern of not researching the play before I saw it. So far, this pattern has led to many pleasant surprises but I think West may be among the most pleasant of the bunch. Right off the success of Casting Call, the cast and crew of Breeders Theater strikes gold again with a production that’s at once a throwback to classic Hollywood romance stories of the 30’s – 50’s and a new entry in the genre; except as a play.

The story follows the tale of two families, the Olsons and the Dokkens whose lives are more connected than they first seem. Olie Olson (Eric Hartley) is the head of a farming family, having immigrated to America at the height of homesteading with nothing but an extra shirt. Harald Dokken (Doug Knoop) is a banker, a steadfast man who believes in hard work and discipline. On one fateful day, Glenda Olson (Adrienne Grieco) and George Dokken (David Roby), meet. What at first seems like annoyance at first sight blossoms into something they never though possible. Throughout the course of the play we follow George and Glenda as they succeed and fail, struggle and sacrifice, all in a story that has as many laughs as it does genuine drama. This is a story that will warm your heart and tug at your heart strings, but most importantly, it’ll make you want to sing half as well as the actors do.

The most striking aspect of West is how well all of the individual parts combine into a whole; the wonderful music, the terrific performances, the stellar writing all combined to form something that is nostalgic but level headed, sentimental but grounded in reality. It’s crucial spiritual nourishment for the inner romantic in all of us and by the end, I guarantee you’ll want more. It’s not just that the characters are fully realized by great actors who obviously care about the audience. It’s not just that the music will have you stirring in your seat and humming the tunes the morning after. It’s not just that the writing has shades of some of the greatest romance stories of all time. It’s ultimately how all of these elements manage to be as great as you’d think and so much more. West gets my highest recommendation. If you’re looking for a romantic evening out at the theater or just feel like you could use a real love story and not the nonsense they’re peddling today try heading to a showing of West. You’ll love every minute of it.

Breeders Theater’s “West” opens at 7pm this Friday night, March 11th at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127B SW 153rd St., Burien, and continues through:

• Saturday, March 12
• Sunday, March 13 (2 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 16
• Thursday, March 17
• Friday, March 18
• Saturday, March 19
• Sunday, March 20 (2 p.m.)
• Wednesday, March 23
• Thursday, March 24
• Friday, March 25
• Saturday, March 26

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and showtime is at 7 p.m.

Sunday matinees are March 13 and 20, with doors open at 1:30 p.m. and showtime at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 (includes wine tasting), and are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines, 206-824-9462. Cash or check only. For more information on tickets, click here.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Philip Benais is our newest Intern, a 16-year old student at Big Picture High School in SeaTac. He's an aspiring Writer who loves movies, so we let him write reviews for us.

Read more of his work here.]

Breeders Theater’s latest play, simply called ‘West,’ will be moseying into Burien’s E.B. Foote Winery starting Friday, March 11th and continuing until March 26th.

After performing for 10 years at this location, unless owner Sherrill Miller can find a buyer, this may be the final play performed at E.B. Foote (read our previous coverage here).

‘West‘ follows the story of two families of immigrants across history in the sequel to ‘Prairie Heart,’ BT’s critically-acclaimed production from January 2009.

Prairie Heart followed the story of Norwegian immigrant farmer Ole Olson and the woman he loves, Ingrid Thorgrimsdottir.  At the end of that play, Ole and Ingrid finally get together.

Fast forward 25 years. Ole and Ingrid’s youngest daughter, Glenda, is ready to make her own way.  But times have changed in North Dakota.  She could get married and start a farm of her own, but will history intervene?

West follows the fortunes of the Olson and Dokken families from World War I to the start of the Great Depression.

West was written by T.M. Sell, based on the stories of his own ancestors, who also, over time, made their way west.

“It’s loosely based on my ancestors, but this could be anybody’s story, really,” says Sell.

West runs March 11-26 at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien. This will be the company’s 20th production at the winery.

The show is directed by Alan Wilkie, who also directed Prairie Heart. Music is by Nancy Warren, with choreographed by Teresa Widner, and costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast features:

• Adrienne Grieco
• David Roby
• Eric Hartley
• Amber Rack
• Doug Knoop
• Steve Scheide
• Erika Zabelle

Show dates are March 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, with doors open at 6:30 p.m. and showtime at 7 p.m.

Sunday matinees are March 13 and 20, with doors open at 1:30 p.m. and showtime at 2 p.m.

Performances will be at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127B SW 153rd St., Burien.

Tickets are still only $20, including wine tasting, and are available at the winery, 206-242-3852, and at Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines, 206-824-9462. Cash or check only. For more information on tickets, click here.

Tickets are $20, and include tasting of E.B. Foote’s award-winning wines and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are available at the winery, 206-242-3852 and at Corky Cellars, 22511 Marine View Drive, Des Moines, 206-824-9462.

“It’s a parody of Victorian romance novels, and a commentary on the financial meltdown,” says playwright T.M. Sell.  “I like Victorian romance novels, but they’re also kind of funny.  And although Jane Austen didn’t write Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte did), I liked the title.”

And, technically speaking, Jane Austen was Georgian, not Victorian.

The play tells the story of young Miss Clarity Fugue, who has an inheritance of a most difficult nature.  Will she find true love in the form of a rich husband before she hits the poorhouse?

Withering Heights will be directed by J. Howard Boyd, with music by Nancy Warren, choreography by Teresa Widner and costumes by Melissa Sell.

The cast includes Adrienne Grieco, Amber Rack, Martin J. Mackenzie, Eric Hartley, Doug Knoop, Brenan Grant, David Roby, Steve Schenk, Melissa Malloy, and Megan Krogstadt.

Show dates are 7 p.m. on:

• July 16
• July 17



• July 21
• July 23
• July 24
• July 28
• July 29
• July 30
• July 31

And 2 p.m. on:

• July 25
• Aug. 1

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for evening performances, and at 1:30 p.m. for matinees.  All shows are festival seating.

Founded in 1999, Breeders Theater remains one of South King County’s only professional theater companies.  BT is entirely self-supporting, and does not seek nor take public funds.

This will be BT’s 16th performance at E.B. Foote Winery.

E.B. Foote, founded in 1978, is one of Washington’s oldest wineries, specializing in Bordeaux-style red varietals and blends.

More information on the performance is available here.

Breeders Theater will be holding a general audition for its upcoming summer show, “Withering Heights” at 7pm on Monday, April 19th at E.B. Foote Winery, located at 127-B SW 153rd in Burien.

“Withering Heights” will be a “parody of Victorian proportions. With Bankers.” according to a poster.

From an email press release:

Breeders Theater will have a general audition for its summer show, Withering Heights, 7 p.m., April 19 at E.B. Foote Winery, 127B SW 153rd, Burien.

We are looking for three men and three women, ages 20-30.

Bring resume, head shot, short comic monologue.

Questions: tmsell@aol.com.

According to their website:

Breeders Theater was founded in 1999, with a benefit performance at Highline College in Des Moines. Our first show was Arctic Jack Klondike/Y?2K. We performed again at Highline in 2001, and then later that year convinced our friends at E.B. Foote to take a chance (these should always be very scary words: “I’ve written this play.” Be afraid; be very afraid). Nonetheless, people continue to pay money to come see us. It must be the wine.

Breeders Theater is so named because every member of the cast is capable of producing uranium isotopes from plutonium. Fortunately this doesn’t happen very often. It has nothing to do with reproduction, though it may have been a play on “readers theater,” which is how we got our start.

For more information, visit their website here.

by Gina Bourdage

Set in the familiar location of Snoqualmie Pass, an unlikely group of travelers find themselves trapped by the snow-closed passes in “Snowbound,” which opens Friday, Jan. 15th at BTB Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery.

In the solitude of a quaint local inn, each guest is faced with conflicting personal struggles, not only with themselves but with the other guests as well. Learning that the local sheriff (a guy reminiscent of Barney Fife, played by Scott Green) is looking for an escaped convict only adds to their heightened sense of self preservation and sends each person seeking answers about who they can trust and what they are really looking for.

The cast of this Breeders Theater production showcases an array of experienced talent, all of whom holds your attention and keeps you guessing. Each actor brings a unique perspective to their role, including:

• Binky (played by Brenan Grant) the “emo” young man who relishes in his own misery.
• Lovely (played by Teresa Widner) whose out of control hormones seem to be too much for even her to handle at times let alone her trail of conquests.
• Ike (played by Martin J. Mackenzie) the innkeeper who had such a convincing of role of the friendly small town fellow whose trustworthy and friendly nature draws people to him.
• Glenda (played by Kelly Johnson), Binky’s mother, shows hints of a 50s sitcom housewife whose traditional values are challenged by raising a rebellious young man.
• Hank Thompson (played by Andrew Smith) the seemingly sincere, reliable and at times dryly sarcastic chef finds himself thrown into uncomfortable positions of his fellow traveler’s dilemmas.
• The young couple “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (played by Stephen Scheide and Laura Smith) who find themselves in a suspicious bind that even they are unsure of how to resolve.

Each guest is presented with the overwhelming concern of not only wanting to avoid an encounter with the escaped convict, they have to question; could the convict be among them? Distracted by only their own egotistical veils, each person reveals humorous and deeper struggles among each other.

While I found each performance to be well played, I struggled with the level of general air-headedness that most of the women and at times the men possessed. Being confused is one thing, but as the script rolled along the naivety prevailed leaving me to question the characters’ intended intelligence.

The lack of an actual set was at first distracting for me; however the actors/characters got and kept my attention quickly enough for me to get past it. The theater in the round, or more like “audience as bookends,” might be new for some viewers, but brings a complete perspective to the show and allows you to see each scene as if you were actually there.

All in all this TM Sell play directed by Michael Brunk was humorous, charming and engaging while bringing a level of the traditional whodunnit to an unsuspecting ending that I can only say was jarringly layered and thought-provoking.

I would recommend not missing this performance of “Snowbound,” especially for Alfred Hitchcock and Twilight Zone fans, as the references are abundant…just be sure to bring a coat.

No, seriously – it can get a little chilly at E.B. Foote Winery this time of year.

Tickets are $20, and include the play, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting by E.B. Foote.

You can purchase them at the winery (127-B SW 153rd in Burien; 206-242-3852), at CorkyCellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462) or online here.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Non-Reviewer Doesn’t Review Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• PHOTOS: Behind-The-Scenes Peak At Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• The Pass May Be Closed, But Tickets Are Now On Sale For Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”

by Mark Neuman

We had a regularly scheduled staff meeting at The B-Town Blog’s dorm room-like offices Wednesday morning, where a non-regularly scheduled question was asked.

“Hey Neuman. Can you do a review of the dress rehearsal of the comedy ‘Snowbound’ at E.B. Foote Winery (BTB Advertiser) tonight?”

“Well, uh, I’ve never actually reviewed an actual play before,” I stammered.

“Good,” said Blog Editor Scott Schaefer. “I’ll expect your review in the morning.”

Great. What do I do now?

Honesty is the best policy I reminded myself, so hours before I arrived at the winery, home of many Breeder Theater’s productions over the past several years, I “pre-wrote” my opening review paragraphs, which I now present, for the reader’s approval:

In the spirit of full disclosure it should be noted that, first of all, in addition to never having reviewed a play before, I met ‘Snowbound’s’ author, playwright T.M. Sell, almost a third of a century ago, while hanging out at the Highline Community College newsroom, where my pals would, late at night, put the school newspaper, The Thunderword, to bed, as they say in the biz.

Second, I intended the above paragraph to be as run-on-ish as it appears.

Third, I was lucky enough to have made the pleasant acquaintance of ‘Snowbound’s’ director, Michael Brunk, last year. He is a brilliant Photographer, and we work together with Schaefer on the blog.

Michael’s skill with the camera is amazing. He reaches the summit on his photographic mountain climbs so amazingly frequently that we blog staffers just stare skyward and declare: ‘Good Brunksmanship!’

And fourth, speaking of E.B. Foote Winery, I actually know THE E.B. Foote. The Footes were among my best friends growing up, going way back to first grade. Chris Foote and I visited his parents as they were just finishing building out their first winery, in South Park, also about a third of a century ago.

Okay. Full disclosure is out of the way.

At the winery Wednesday night, minutes before the house lights did what house lights do just before a play is about to start, I looked over and Thank Goodness there was my blog colleague Gina Bourdage, with her friend Jack, who reminds one of a quiet and calm Jack Black.

“I’ll be doing the review of the play tonight,” said Gina, confidently. Wisely, Schaefer had recalculated the assignment.

“And I’ll just tell the story of a Regular Joe such as myself who never sees theater,” I responded.

“Fine,” smiled Gina as she and Mr. Black moved on.

Relieved, to say the least, that Ms. Bourdage would handle the rough stuff, I felt free to muse over and note such things as the jar full of multicolored M&M’s at the table of hors d’oeuvres.

“M&M’s at the hors d’oeuvres table!” I said to myself, because, well, no one else was within earshot. “Clearly Sell’s and Brunk’s contracts demanded the confection. And just as clearly, the winery refused to be limited to just one color, Led Zeppelin style. Or was it The Who? Lynyrd Skynyrd? Well, anyway.”

Gina will provide details of the play under a different headline, but let me give you a thumbnail of “Snowbound”:

Dean Martin plays an airline pilot who has an affair with a beautiful flight attendant, played by Jacqueline Bisset…

Then…oops, sorry…those are my notes from the first film I reviewed, “Airport,” for the Lafayette Elementary School Gazette back in 1970.

Let’s see here. Lemme get a little better organized. Okay. Here we go:

“Snowbound” is a mirthful production that concerns a group of unique personalities stuck in a lodge near the pass, just off I-90, in a wicked snow storm. The roads are all closed for the foreseeable future. And wouldn’t you know it? An inmate has escaped from the state pen in Monroe. A killer, perhaps? Is he among those stuck in the lodge?

What will T.M Sell think of next? See the play (it starts this Friday, Jan. 15th), and find out. It’s terrific, especially for the $20 price, which includes wine tastings, hors d’ouevres and of course, a great and entertaining play chock full of lots of Sellishness and Brunksmanship (you can buy tickets online here).

Stage Manager, Andrew Pogue, when asked before the show what advice he gives to anyone about to stage manage their first play, said: “Don’t start out with ‘Annie.’ And use checklists. Lots and lots of checklists.”

When asked after the dress rehearsal by this reporter what advice he had for anyone wanting to write their first play, T.M. Sell said “Know what you want to write, and stick with it. The initial writing part is relatively easy. It’s the rewriting process that can be difficult.”

He then said “Now Neuman, please go away and don’t contact me again for another third of a century.” (Just kidding, folks.)

Nancy Warren arranged the music and sang beautifully. Word is that regular Breeder Theater goers complain if Nancy does not sing somewhere during a performance.

An audience member, who I will refer to as “Becky” because, well, her name IS Becky, said “Of the four Breeder Theater plays I’ve seen, ‘Snowbound’ is the funniest. I laughed repeatedly.”

Kelly Johnson, who plays Glenda, the mother of Binky, has been acting since childhood. She has advice for prospective actors about to read for their first part: “Go bravely,” said the auburn beauty.

Go, ready to enjoy yourself, to “Snowbound.” I heartily recommend it. It runs through January 31st.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• PHOTOS: Behind-The-Scenes Peak At Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”
• The Pass May Be Closed, But Tickets Are Now On Sale For Breeders Theater’s “Snowbound”

Story & Photos by Michael Brunk

Coming soon to Advertiser E.B. Foote Winery is Breeder Theater’s latest production: “Snowbound,” which opens Friday, Jan. 15th

Written by local playwright T.M. Sell, the story is set at a lodge in the Washington mountains. As winter snows block the passes stranding the guests, the local sheriff stops by with troubling news about an escaped convict:

• Could one of the guests be the suspected killer?
• Can any of them really be trusted?
• And just how many references to Alfred Hitchcock titles are in the show anyway?

The cast and crew have been hard at work since the end of November preparing the show for its debut on January 15th. The process includes extensive scene rehearsals as actors work with the director and stage manager to refine their movements on stage, their characterization and the all-import line memorization. In collaboration with the author, the script is also put through a final scrubbing as it is finalized for the show. The schedule for “Snowbound” was especially challenging logistically with interruptions for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

All of the hard work will soon pay off as the production concludes the final technical rehearsals this coming week and is finally performed in front of a live audience. This is the part that makes the effort worthwhile, as the audience feedback lets the cast know how well they’ve done their job.

“Snowbound” is directed by The B-Town Blog’s own Michael Brunk with music by Nancy Warren. The stage manager is Andrew Pogue. The cast includes Andrew Smith, Laura Smith, Teresa Widner, Steve Scheide, Kelly Johnson, Scott Green, Martin J. McKenzie and Brenan Grant.

The show will open on January 15th and run through January 31st with twelve performances. Show times are 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays. In addition there are 7pm performances on the 20th, 27th and 28th.

Here’s the schedule:

• Friday Jan. 15
• Saturday Jan. 16
• Sunday Jan. 17
• *Wed. Jan. 20 (benefits Highline College Foundation)
• Friday Jan. 22
• Saturday Jan. 23
• Sunday Jan. 24
• Wed. Jan. 27
• Thursday Jan. 28
• Friday Jan. 29
• Saturday Jan. 30
• Sunday Jan. 31

*Jan. 20 show benefits Highline College Foundation

Tickets are just $20, and include the play, hors d’oeuvres and a wine tasting by E.B. Foote. You can purchase them at the winery (206-242-3582) and also at Corky Cellars in Des Moines (206-824-9462).

For more information please visit www.breederstheater.com.

For more info on E.B. Foote Winery, their website is here.

And of course, since “Snowbound” is Directed by Photographer Michael Brunk, you know we just have to include his Photo Slideshow:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Breeders Theater’s newest production is “Snowbound,” where the pass is closed (both ways), and the guy in the next room might be a killer.

Written by local playwright T.M. Sell, Directed by BTB Photographer Michael Brunk, with music by Nancy Warren, Breeders’ latest comedy premieres Friday, Jan. 15th at E.B. Foote Winery in Burien.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Snowbound. The pass is closed. Both ways. And the guy in the next room might be a killer.

WHEN: Premieres Friday, Jan. 15th; Doors open Fri/Sat/Wed/Thur at 6:30 p.m./show starts at 7 p.m.; 1:30 p.m./2 p.m. Sundays:

• Friday Jan. 15
• Saturday Jan. 16
• Sunday Jan. 17
• *Wed. Jan. 20 (benefits Highline College Foundation)
• Friday Jan. 22
• Saturday Jan. 23
• Sunday Jan. 24
• Wed. Jan. 27
• Thursday Jan. 28
• Friday Jan. 29
• Saturday Jan. 30
• Sunday Jan. 31

*Jan. 20 show benefits Highline College Foundation

WHERE: E.B. Foote Winery, 127-B SW 153rd St., Burien 206-242-3852

INFO: Written by T.M. Sell. Music by Nancy Warren. Directed by BTB Photographer Michael Brunk.

TICKETS: Just $20, including hors d’oeuvres and tasting of E.B. Foote wines.

Tickets available at E.B. Foote Winery (127-B SW 153rd St., Burien; 206-242-3852) and at CorkyCellars (22511 Marine View Dr., Des Moines; 206-824-9462)

More information available at www.breederstheater.com.

Payment options: Cash, check, or credit card* (*Credit cards accepted with a $5 fee per ticket in addition to the $20 ticket price.
OR 
Your credit card can guarantee the tickets, and you can pay at the door with cash or a check.  
If your card is charged, you will be charged a $5 fee per ticket in addition to the $20 ticket price).

Tickets available:

• E.B. Foote Winery
  127-B SW 153rd St.
  Burien, WA
  206-242-3852
• Corky Cellars
  22511 Marine View Drive
  Des Moines, WA
  206-824-9462

Refund policy: No refunds. Exchanges on availability for the run.